he Human Rights Day will be observed across the globe on Monday. This year the objective of this day is to highlight the rights of all people, including women, minorities, persons with disabilities and marginalised people as well as to make their voices heard in decision making processes. The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10th December in 1948. The Declaration is the recognition of dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human community as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

To mark the occasion, the National Human Rights Commission is organizing a programme in New Delhi for spreading more awareness on human rights.

Nepal government has expressed serious concern over the Nepal Conflict Report released by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights . The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said, the report has been prepared without prior consent of Nepal government and proper consultation with all the stakeholders.

It stated the Government of Nepal has strong reservation on the process and content of the report and does not own the report. The government has reiterated its commitment to promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law, peace.

The detailed report had been released by the UN body of Human Rights on Monday saying that upto 9000 serious violations of international human rights law during the ten year conflict but no one has been prosecuted in a civilian court for a serious conflict related crime.

The Security Council has extended the mandate of the UN mission in Iraq for another year and asked all communities there to participate in the country's political process.

The resolution extended the mandate of the UNAMI, which expires on Saturday, to July 31, next year.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body encouraged the Iraqi government to continue strengthening
democracy and the rule of law, improving security and public
order and combating terrorism and sectarian violence across the country.

The Security Council voiced its support to the people and the government of Iraq in their efforts to build what it called a secure, stable, federal, united and democratic nation based on the rule of law and respect for human rights.

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) is a political mission established by the Council in 2003, at the request of the Iraqi government.

It is mandated to advise and assist in areas like advancing political dialogue and national reconciliation, assisting in the electoral process, facilitating regional dialogue between Iraq and its neighbours, and promoting the protection of human rights and judicial and legal reform.

The Council welcomed improvements in Iraq's security situation, while stressing that challenges remain and that improvements need to be sustained through meaningful political dialogue and national unity.

The Council also underscored the need for all communities in Iraq to participate in the political process and an inclusive political dialogue, as well as for the communities to refrain from making statements and actions which could aggravate tensions.

In the area of human rights, the Council urged the government to continue to promote and protect human rights and also to consider additional steps to support the Independent
High Commission for Human Rights in carrying out its mandate.

A new report by Human Rights Watch says more than 400 women in Afghanistan are in jail for trying to escape abusive husbands and forced marriages. The report said the women who seek to run away from such misery are frequently accused of adultery and imprisoned for moral crimes, while their abusers walk free.

Human Rights Watch interviewed 58 such women and girls including a wife who said her husband stabbed her in the head, chest, and arms with a screwdriver for inviting a male visitor into their home.